World
Several People Killed and Injured After Driver Plows into Crowd at Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver
A tragic incident unfolded Saturday night at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver, where a driver plowed into a crowd, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.
According to preliminary reports, at least eight people, including a child, have been confirmed dead, and at least six others were critically injured.
Vancouver Police have not officially confirmed the final number of casualties but are expected to provide an update at a press conference scheduled for midnight local time.
Witnesses reported that a black Audi SUV drove through the crowded festival area around 8:00 p.m. near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street.
Festival attendees described scenes of panic and chaos, with people yelling, screaming, and rushing to escape the vehicle’s path as it struck vendors and pedestrians.
Vancouver Police confirmed that the driver responsible for the incident is in custody.
Authorities have yet to release a motive but noted that the suspect may have had prior interactions with law enforcement as recently as the day before the incident.
Sources also indicate the individual has a history of mental health challenges.
In a statement released Saturday evening, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy:
“We are shocked and saddened by this horrific incident at the Lapu Lapu Day event. Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time. We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available,” he said.
Deana Lancaster, a spokesperson for Vancouver General Hospital—the region’s top trauma center—confirmed that the hospital was receiving multiple patients from the scene.
Photos and videos circulating on social media showed the black SUV believed to have been involved in the attack, and festival attendees described the terrifying moments leading up to the crash.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has relevant information to contact Vancouver Police immediately.
Authorities have identified one of the victims killed in the devastating car-ramming attack at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Festival as Rizza Azzir.
The suspect, a 30-year-old man from Vancouver, remains in custody. Officials have confirmed that, at this time, the incident is not being treated as an act of terrorism.
According to Vancouver Police, the attack resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals, with dozens more injured.
Patients have been transported to nine different hospitals across the region, and authorities warn that the death toll may continue to rise in the coming days and weeks.
The suspect, whose name has not been officially released in this statement, has a significant criminal history, with over 60 prior police interactions.
The tragic incident unfolded just after 8:00 p.m. PT on Saturday, near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, where the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party was concluding after drawing up to 100,000 attendees throughout the day.
Interim Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai confirmed that the driver of a black SUV drove into the crowd, causing mass casualties.
Speaking Sunday morning, Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed the nation’s sorrow, stating that more than 20 individuals were injured.
He described the event as a time meant for joy and community celebration, which was instead marked by horrific violence. “Canadians are heartbroken at what police are describing as a car-ramming attack,” Carney said. He further extended condolences to the families of those killed and injured, later posting on social media that he was “devastated to hear about the horrific events” in Vancouver.
Following the attack, Vancouver Coastal Health declared a “code orange,” signaling a mass casualty event. While initial reports confirmed nine fatalities, updated figures early Sunday morning revised that number to 11.
The Lapu Lapu Day Festival honors the legacy of Lapu-Lapu, a Filipino hero and Indigenous resistance fighter who opposed Spanish colonization in the 16th century.
Saturday marked the second annual celebration of the event in Vancouver, emphasizing the Filipino-Canadian community’s enduring contributions and the spirit of bayanihan — collective community effort.
British Columbia’s Filipino community is the third-largest cultural group in the province, following South Asian and Chinese populations.
Statistics Canada reports that more than 174,000 individuals of Filipino descent live in B.C., comprising approximately 3.5 percent of the province’s total population.
The investigation into the attack remains active, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.